Bitter Midnight

1. Pedal Tones

(Words and Music by Chris Bergson, CB Band Music – ASCAP and Kate Ross, More Mirth Music – BMI)

Nothing’s more real
Then what’s absent
Crushed by the weight of what’s gone
The space after everything’s swept out
only the shadows dance on

CHORUS

Pedal tones groan
Echo across the empty town square
window cracked, a little cognac
laughter in the night air

The streets seem empty
But are littered with dreams
refuse of yesterday
I’m a drifter by trade, a dreamer by day
It’s time I was making my way

CHORUS

Feel like I’m travelin’
sideways and down
Gotta shake off this hex
Spent too much time just sittin’ around
Gotta move on to what’s next

CHORUS

2. 5:20

(Words and music by Chris Bergson, CB Band Music – ASCAP and Kate Ross, More
Mirth Music – BMI)

On the river bank
Below the ridge
My heart sank
As I watched your train cross the bridge

5:20 still hurts
5:20 still hurts
Tiny painted clouds
Ripples on the river
Molecules rearranged

Final kiss at the station
The absence of farewell
You took a part of me
That cannot be replaced

So roll on 5:20, roll on
Nothing left to take
You left me here stranded, drowning
indifference of the landscape

So roll on 5:20, roll on
So that’s how you gonna say goodbye
You left me here stranded, drowning
in the silence of your eyes

5:20 still hurts
5:20 still hurts
My heart sank
As I watched your train cross the bridge

5:20 still hurts
5:20 still burns
Tiny painted clouds
Ripples on the river
Molecules rearranged
So roll on 5:20, roll on
Nothing left to take
You left me here stranded, drowning
indifference of the landscape

Tiny painted clouds
Ripples on the river
Molecules rearranged

3. Just Before the Storm

(Words and Music by Chris Bergson, CB Band Music – ASCAP, Craig Dreyer, Mighty Toad Music –
ASCAP, Ellis Hooks, Hooks Music – BMI)

By the river running
smell of grass and gasoline
Days stretched out before us
An endless summer dream

Before the sky clouded over
Though we weren’t very far
We’d get lost before supper
And make it home before dark

Lightning from the sky
Lit up the whole place
When you left me
With these tears on my face
Sometimes I get so homesick
In my own home
You left me
Just before the storm

Light through the kitchen window
In the place you used to stand
I’m walkin’ up the stairs
Wipin’ off my hands

Almost got the car fixed
Finally mowed the lawn
I’m wondering how it’d be
If you hadn’t gone

There ain’t no easy answer
Ain’t no guarantees
You don’t always get
what you think you need

Though the wind outside is howlin’
Inside the fire’s so warm
you left me
just before the storm

Cry like a child
Whose toy has been misplaced
I’d like to think
you’re in a better place
we did the best we could

Can’t do no more
You left me
Just before the storm
You left me
Just before the storm

4. Knuckles & Bones

(Words and Music by Chris Bergson, CB Band Music – ASCAP and Ellis Hooks, Hooks
Music – BMI)

I got trouble in my life
been there since the day I was born
I got trouble in my life
been there since the day I was born
Didn’t eat from a silver spoon
Survived with knuckles and bones

I got stress in my soul
The pain won’t leave me for long
I got stress in my soul
The pain won’t leave me for long
The girl played a game with my head
can’t see she was wrong

Many times I gave her my heart
She took it and she just ran away
Many times I gave her my heart
She took it and she just ran away
A sad case of a man
Standing out of place

Bridge
She got me in the danger zone
She tried to break into my place last night
She’s wreaking my nerves y’all
I feel something ain’t right

I got trouble in my life
been there since the day I was born
I got trouble in my life
been there since the day I was born
gave her the love I had
now I’m all alone

I got trouble in my life
been there since the day I was born
I got trouble in my life
been there since the day I was born
Didn’t eat from a silver spoon
Survive with knuckles and bones

5. Explode or Contain

(Words and music by Chris Bergson, CB Band Music – ASCAP and Kate Ross, More
Mirth Music – BMI)

See what is hidden
Perceive or invent
Discover the truth
Know what is meant

Moment to moment
the landscape shifts
The tightrope walk
Touching blown snow drifts

Control attention
That is the game
Act or react
Explode or contain

The machine, it’s coming apart
Must have pushed it too far
From where it comes
You can’t predict
Surprise
Stupify
The blazing torch lit

See what is hidden
Perceive or invent
Discover the truth
Know what is meant

Moment to moment
the landscape shifts
The tightrope walk
Touching blown snow drifts

6. Lullaby

(Words and music by Chris Bergson Band, CB Band Music – ASCAP and Craig Dreyer,
Mighty Toad Music – ASCAP)

Hush now, baby don’t you cry
Everybody sometimes lies
I want you to know
I’ll always be on your side
All the time

Everybody makes mistakes
We all have a heart that breaks
I want you to know
I’ll be there for you
No matter what it takes

Who knew a heart
could be on the outside
and shatter like glass
see the worry in your eyes

When I come in late at night
The monsters, they all run and hide
I want you to know
It’s okay to leave on the light
Til the morning time

Who knew my world
could turn on a dime
Come take my hand
wipe those tears from your eyes

7. 61st & 1st

(Words and music by Chris Bergson, CB Band Music – ASCAP and Kate Ross, More
Mirth Music – BMI)

In the shadows of the bridge
Is where you need to start
A world to catalog
And take apart
Things outta place
Fallen from grace
Need to be tended to

I’m not sure you understand
What it is I’m trying to do
Cats be slackin’
Missing shit
But I’m on it
Working overtime to make sure
nothing is missed
chasing paper bags
running down my list

You pack and unpack
Ain’t nothin’ abstract
Just following the system
Yet some things linger
In the corners of my mind
Keep me up at night
Retrace your steps
Try to keep it in check
But they’re gone
hard to find
Cats be slackin’
Missing shit
But I’m on it

8. Blues For Dave

(Words and music by Chris Bergson, CB Band Music – ASCAP and Kate Ross, More
Mirth Music – BMI)

Ain’t done nothin’ give me reason
to be afraid to die
Ain’t done nothin’ give me reason
to be afraid to die
Just throw your loving arms around me
Rest your head so I don’t have to see you cry

Daybreak’s coming
And my time won’t be long
Daybreak’s coming
And my time won’t be long
I’ll join my sweet wife
In the rosy light of dawn

Served in Korea
Back in ‘52
Served in Korea
Back in ‘52
Served beside my brother
Then he finished high school

Don’t care for attention
Do what I have to do
Don’t care for attention
Do what I have to do
Set out to be a good man
Help others and be honest and true

Ain’t done nothin’ give me reason
Ain’t done nothin’ give me reason
to be afraid to die
Just throw your lovin’ arms around me
Rest your head so I don’t have to see you cry
Just throw your loving arms around me
Rest your head so I don’t have to see you cry

9. Small Trouble

(Words and music by Chris Bergson, CB Band Music – ASCAP and Kate Ross, More
Mirth Music – BMI)

Had a long run
Of small trouble
Almost stopped me
In my tracks

Had a long run
Of small misfortunes
Made me bend ‘til I almost snapped

Sometimes my mind
Tends to dwell on the past
But look around
There ain’t no turning back

On a long road
With many detours
Kinda lost
but feeling fine

You know I thought I lost it
But it was in my bag
The whole time

Sometimes my mind
Tends to dwell on the past
But look around
There ain’t no turning back

Had a big load
Of small worries
What they were
I can’t recall

Had a long night
Of empty day dreams
Open eyed / can’t see at all

Sometimes my mind
Tends to dwell on the past
But look around

There ain’t no turning back
But look around
There ain’t no turning back

10. Another Day

(Words and Music by Chris Bergson, CB Band Music – ASCAP and Kate Ross, More Mirth Music – BMI)

Running past the South Brooklyn Casket Company
I felt triumphant
Pounding the pavement
Oh to be in motion
Flying down the street

The doors opened
and I looked in
rows and rows of coffins
waiting there for me

CHORUS
I woke up
Feeling down today
Seeing the caskets gleaming green
Beckoning to me
I think I’ll choose to stay
Here another day
here another day

On that same day
Something in the air changed
the ache of longing
autumn brings

Things left unspoken
Not lost but broken
I wonder what part of me
will be the first to fade away

I woke up
Feeling down today
Seeing the caskets gleaming green
Beckoning to me
I think I’ll choose to stay
Here another day
here another day

11. Bitter Midnight

(Words and Music by Chris Bergson, CB Band Music – ASCAP and Ellis Hooks, Hooks
Music – BMI)

I’m sitting here in this lonely bar
Staring down at the floor
I’ve been sitting here for hours
And you still haven’t shown
I don’t wanna fight and I don’t get no delight
When bitter midnight comes to call

Some people bring their problems
Some people lookin’ for a thrill
Just sittin’ here with an open heart
And I’m starting to get a chill
No, I don’t wanna fight and I don’t get no delight
When bitter midnight comes to call

You set me up
So many times long ago
But I gave you a second chance baby
Now ya knocked it down to a stone cold zero
No, I don’t want to fight and I don’t get no delight
When bitter midnight comes to call

Checking my phone
Every time I get a text
Praying that it’s you baby
Trying not to become a total wreck
No, I don’t wanna fight
and I don’t get no delight
When bitter midnight comes to call
No, I don’t want to fight and I don’t get no delight
When bitter midnight comes to call
When bitter midnight comes to call